Modern politics has become a grotesque performance, a shallow and manipulative theater designed to elicit emotional responses rather than promote meaningful discourse. We are no longer engaged in governance—we are spectators in a sport where the only goal is for our side to win, and for the other to be humiliated. Policies are no longer judged by their merit, but by which team proposes them. Principles are no longer guiding philosophies, but weapons wielded selectively to attack opponents. Truth itself is malleable, reshaped as needed to fit the narrative of the day. This is the game, and you are either a player or a pawn.
Take, for instance, the push for mass deportation of immigrants, a policy that disregards the real economic implications in favor of ideological purity. Grocery prices and agricultural production heavily rely on the labor of immigrants, yet politicians championing these extreme measures ignore those consequences, instead fueling the flames of division. Similarly, the undermining of individual rights under the guise of religious protection has increasingly become a tactic to harm those the far right deems unacceptable rather than protect anyone in earnest. These efforts disproportionately target marginalized communities, stripping away freedoms in the name of an ideological war that serves no one but those already in power.
It is no wonder that so many feel exhausted, anxious, and disconnected.
As always, we’ll begin with recommended listening:
The Political Sports Team Mentality
We have been conditioned to think of political engagement in the same way we think of our favorite sports teams. The language is the same—winning, losing, dominating, destroying the opposition. There is no room for nuance, no space for reflection, no patience for compromise. A bad policy is acceptable if our side enacts it; a good policy is detestable if it comes from the other side. Our identity becomes wrapped up in victory, and our self-worth tied to the illusion of control over something far larger than ourselves.
This is by design.
The people in power do not suffer from our constant rage and anxiety. They cultivate it. They benefit when we are too emotionally exhausted to think critically, too divided to organize against real injustice, too dependent on the next crisis to ever take a breath and reflect. The game must go on. The outrage must never subside. If we stopped screaming at each other long enough to truly see what was happening, we might realize the stage is rigged, and the actors we root for are not on our side at all.
Perhaps the most glaring contradiction in modern political discourse is the hatred for anything labeled ‘socialist’—except for Social Security. The very people railing against universal healthcare or student debt relief will fight tooth and nail to protect a government-funded program that benefits them directly. It reveals the reality that much of the outrage isn’t ideological but performative, conditioned by those in power to protect the status quo while ensuring that only certain groups benefit from government intervention. The contradiction isn’t hidden—it is ignored, because acknowledging it would expose the manipulation for what it is.
The Psychological Toll: Anxiety, Burnout, Depression, and Nihilism
This cycle of outrage and emotional manipulation is not sustainable. People break under the weight of constant existential battles that never resolve. Some fall into deep depression, leading to a growing sense of interpersonal disconnection and isolation. This detachment, if left unchecked, contributes to rising suicide rates, as individuals feel increasingly powerless and abandoned by the very systems they once trusted. The other results? Anxiety, exhaustion, emotional burnout, and for many, a slow descent into nihilism.
For those who do not succumb to despair, nihilism often emerges as the alternative. Nihilism is the final step when all hope has been burned away—when you realize that the game is a farce, that justice is elusive, that people cheer for their own destruction, that truth is dead, and that you, as an individual, are powerless to change it. This is the moment where many disengage entirely, where apathy sets in, where cynicism takes over. If nothing matters, then why bother?
Why bother watching the news when it only brings frustration? Why bother engaging with political discourse when nothing ever seems to change? Instead, you delete your social media accounts, stop keeping up with current events, and turn your focus to distractions—picking up a new hobby, watching a new streamer, anything to occupy your mind. Instead of confronting the problem, you ignore it, narrowing your world to the here and now in ways that provide temporary relief but no real fulfillment. You tell yourself it doesn’t matter, and maybe, for a while, that belief shields you from the weight of reality. But ignoring the problem does not make it disappear.
And yet, that is the exact moment when something stronger can emerge.
The Path Forward: From Nihilism to Stoicism
The truth is, nihilism, in my opinion on how most people experience it, is an unrefined form of stoicism waiting to be shaped. If nothing matters, then why allow the performance to control your emotions? If the game is rigged, why remain a willing pawn? Instead of despairing at the chaos of the world, embrace what you can control—your own actions, your own principles, your own mind.
Marcus Aurelius, one of history’s most powerful rulers, lived under a corrupt and crumbling empire. He did not waste his energy lamenting the failures of Rome or drowning in political games. He focused on his own conduct, his own discipline, his own ability to act justly in an unjust world. He wrote, “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
The modern world offers distractions, outrage cycles, endless performances designed to keep you emotionally reactive and mentally weak. To escape this, you must learn detachment—not in the form of apathy, but in the form of mastery over yourself.
Let the political actors play their games. Let the spectacle continue. But do not allow it to consume you. Instead, focus on what you can change. Work where you can make a real difference. Strengthen yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally so that no matter what happens in the world, you remain unshaken.
Because in the end, the most rebellious thing you can do in a system designed to manipulate your emotions is to refuse to play their game.
Applying Stoicism: A Practical Reframing
Understanding stoicism is one thing—applying it to your daily struggles is another. A stoic shift in perspective does not mean ignoring injustice or pretending that problems do not exist; it means recognizing where your energy is best spent and refusing to let external chaos dictate your mental state.
Reframing Political Manipulation – Instead of reacting emotionally to every political development, recognize that outrage is a tool used to manipulate. Accept that while systemic change is slow, meaningful impact is possible through deliberate and focused effort. Engage in local politics, support causes that align with your values, and influence what you can while maintaining emotional detachment from the media’s cycles of manufactured panic.
Reframing Burnout and Anxiety – When overwhelmed by the constant barrage of crises, pause and ask: What is within my control? Instead of spiraling into stress over global issues, direct your focus inward—on your own discipline, on maintaining a stable foundation for yourself and those around you. Anxiety often stems from attempting to control what we cannot; true power comes from mastering our own reactions.
Reframing Interpersonal Disconnection – Stoicism teaches that you cannot control others, only yourself. If political divisions have strained relationships, approach them with composure rather than frustration. Instead of arguing, embody the values you believe in—integrity, patience, and understanding. Set boundaries where needed, but do not let external conflicts rob you of inner peace.
Reframing the Search for Meaning – Nihilism often leads people to believe that because life lacks inherent meaning, nothing is worth doing. Stoicism offers the opposite perspective: Because life lacks inherent meaning, you are free to create your own. Rather than being paralyzed by meaninglessness, view it as an opportunity to build a purpose that aligns with your values.
This shift in thinking does not mean disengaging from the world—it means engaging with it in a way that preserves your well-being. Stoicism is not about indifference; it is about intentionality. When you choose what deserves your focus and energy, you regain control over your life, finding strength where others only see despair.
A Stoic Conclusion: Reclaiming Your Power
The world may seem chaotic, unjust, and overwhelming, but you are not powerless. The choice between nihilism and stoicism is the choice between surrender and mastery. By accepting what is beyond your control and focusing on what is within it, you reclaim your autonomy.
Let others be consumed by outrage. Let them exhaust themselves in endless cycles of reaction and despair. You, however, can choose a different path—one of discipline, focus, and quiet strength. This does not mean ignoring injustice, but rather approaching it with a clear mind, strategic action, and an unwavering sense of self.
In a world that thrives on your distraction, be present. In a system designed to provoke your emotions, remain composed. In a culture that rewards spectacle, seek substance. You do not have to play their game. You can build your own rules.
And when you do, you will find not just resilience, but true freedom.
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